Paula Southgate: Hamilton Mayor on the French Rugby team not staying in the city before the test - Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Hamilton's not losing sleep over the French rugby team's decision to snub the city. 

The Les Bleus are basing themselves in Auckland for as long as possible before the third test against the All Blacks in Waikato next week. 

A spokesperson says the team prefer the facilities in Auckland. 

Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate told Andrew Dickens the city does sporting events very well, using its co-hosting of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup as an example. 

She says the event was very pleased with the facilities at FMG Stadium and believed Hamilton's hosting was some of the best. 

The Mayor says thousands of visitors are heading to the city for the game. 

Southgate says they're going to pack out local business and accommodation and thinks it's the French team's loss. 

The second test is on Saturday night in Wellington. 

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